A 1st: Uncle allowed to indirectly donate his kidney to niece

For the first time in the state, a maternal uncle has been allowed to donate a kidney for his niece.It will be an indirect, domino transplant - the city's third - involving three patients and three donors.January 04, 2016, 08:53 IST

The organ transplant rules do not recognize a maternal uncle as immediate family member who can donate organs, but state medical education minister Vinod Tawde used his quasi-judicial powers to make the exception after confirming there was no commercial angle involved and that it was a matter of life and death for two couples and a young girl.

The lead taken by Tawde assumes significance because it will go a long way in promoting kidney transplants. The minister said the government is trying to simplify organ donation rules and has approached the Centre.

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